Chapter 43

Delilah

“Jesus, everyone is here already.” The sounds of multiple conversations wash over us as we enter the clubhouse from the back door.

“That’s perfect.” Lawson pecks me on the lips. “Stop shaking. Why are you nervous?”

He stops near the door to the laundry room and pulls me to his chest.

“Are you happy?” I nod against his soft t-shirt. “Then they’ll be happy for you.”

I take a deep breath, kiss his perfect lips, and let him lead me to the family room.

“She said yes!” he yells the second we cross over the threshold.

“Real fucking subtle,” I mutter as applause and yells of joy fill my ears.

Dad and Pop are the first to reach me.

“I couldn’t be happier for you,” Dad says in my ear before releasing me to wrap his arms around Lawson.

“Sweetheart,” Pop says before engulfing me in his big arms. I edge away from the tickle of his beard on my neck, laughing as he squeezes me again.

“Congrats, brother.” I freeze at the sound of Samson’s voice and nearly faint when I look over to see him hugging my fiancé.

Hell has officially frozen over.

“Thanks,” Lawson says just as shocked as I am.

“I couldn’t imagine a better man for my sister.”

Lawson only nods, the same emotional look on his face when Drew gave his approval three months ago. I know if he talks right now, his voice will crack, so I do the only thing I can; I cry for him.

The endless line of congratulations and hugs seem to take forever but stops eventually. It isn’t until I see Gigi across the room that I realize she’s the only one who didn’t walk up to us during the procession of well-wishers. She gives me a small smile, and there’s more heartbreak in that one action than I’ve ever experienced for myself.

I go to walk in her direction, but Lawson pulls me against his chest.

“I told you everything would go just fine.”

I’m lost when I look up into his eyes, forgetting all about the pain in Gigi’s eyes.

“I’ve never been happier.”

“Let’s go have a seat until dinner,” he suggests, but I pull away from the warmth of his chest.

“Can’t.” I step away from him. “I have to make the rolls.”

I expect him to head over to the guys and talk about manly shit, but he follows me into the kitchen, helping me butter the tops before slipping them into the oven.

Wrapped around my back with his hands low on my belly, he kisses my neck. “I can’t wait to put my baby here.”

I smile but shake my head. “Not for some time. I want you all to myself for a while. Plus, I need to get through school.”

A throat clears behind us, and Lawson turns both of us without releasing me. Dad is standing there, and I freeze. I know he knows we’re together. I know he said he was happy for us, but it doesn’t make facing him all wrapped up in Lawson any easier.

“Do I need to spray you two with the hose?” His voice is serious, but the smile on his face makes me think he’s joking, mostly anyways.

“No,” I say and try to pull away. Lawson only holds me tighter.

“What were you talking about?”

“Babies,” Lawson answers immediately.

Dad’s hand stills mere inches from the handle on the refrigerator. When he turns and shoots lasers at Lawson, I freeze.

“You promised me at least two years, Law.” He holds up two fingers for emphasis. “Two.”

“About that.” My eyes widen when Lawson runs his hand low on my belly. “Will Pop still go by Pop when he’s a granddad? What do you want them to call you?”

I swear my dad stops breathing.

“Them?” I’ve never heard my dad’s voice squeak before.

“Quit.” I step out of Lawson’s arms and reach for my dad, laughing at how wide his eyes are as they focus on my stomach. “I’m not pregnant, Dad. He’s messing with you.”

Dad’s eyes narrow as he looks at Lawson. “You’re sleeping on the couch.”

“The bunk bed would be more comfortable,” Lawson counters.

“Like hell,” Dad mutters. “You snuck in her room two years ago, and I know you’ll do it again. The couch is all yours.”

“Yes, sir.”

Not the response I was expecting, but I also don’t expect the wink Dad gives me before he walks out to repair his damaged nerves.

“That was fun,” Lawson says with a wide smile on his face.

“You’re awful,” I tell him with a soft laugh and turn back to the oven to pull out the first batch of rolls.

***

“How are you liking that cream pie?”

I nearly choke on the bite in my mouth when Lawson whispers those dirty words in my ear.

When the wheezing stops, I turn and glare at him and shrug. “I’ve had better.”

“It’s a shame that so many people think Boston makes the best ones, but I know mine is better.”

“I’d ask for proof, but that would be rather difficult from the couch.”

He chuckles, but when he focuses on something across the room his brow furrows.

“What’s going on with those two?”

I follow his line of sight and see Griffin talking to a very straight-backed Ivy.

“Don’t you know,” I tell him in a low whisper. “Ivy is so in love with that boy she doesn’t see anyone else when he’s around.”

“Really?” He sounds surprised. “I thought he was into Gigi.”

“And thus lies the problem,” I mutter.

The mention of Gigi’s name causes me to look around the room and search for her. She was abnormally quiet during dinner and excused herself before she’d eaten half the food on her plate. Something’s going on, and everyone at the table could feel the tension between her and her parents.

When I find her, she’s across the room and Diego is in her face. I can’t hear what they’re talking about, but if the tears on her cheeks are any indication she’s not happy one bit.

“Gigi doesn’t have a clue, and I’m pretty sure Griffin is clueless about Ivy,” I respond to him without pulling my eyes from the parental confrontation.

“Shit. That’s kind of sad.”

“Incredibly,” I agree.

“Ready for bed?” The suggestion in his tone has my thighs squeezing together.

“That’s not even a possibility. It’s barely seven. There’s not one person in this house that would believe we’re going back to the room to sleep.”

Lawson, facing the challenge raises his arms over his head and yawns. In a voice loud enough for everyone near to hear, he says, “Man, that turkey is making me sleepy.”

I swat at him even though he gets several agreements from the room.

“Worked like a charm,” he says with a quick grin. “Let’s go.”

“Not so fast.” I tilt my head in the direction of my Dad and Pop.

“Dammit,” he mutters when Dad glares at him and shakes his head.

“You should’ve kept your damn mouth closed.” I lean my head on his shoulder. Just the mention of being sleepy in relation to the big meal I just ate makes me truly sleepy. “Too bad because now I have to sleep alone.”

“We’ll get a hotel ro—”

“I forbid it!” Diego roars across the room.

“Yeah, well. I’m fucking grown so what you say doesn’t even matter,” Gigi hisses before turning and walking out the front door of the clubhouse.

I make to stand, but Lawson puts a hand on my shoulder. “Stay out of it, baby.”

“She’s upset.”

“She’ll be fine,” he assures me.

Little does anyone in this room know we won’t see her for a very long time, and when we do, we won’t even recognize the woman she’s become.